Calender with removable bearing pressure mechanism



June 10, 1969 c, sE dR ETAL 3,448,683

CALENDER WITH REMOVABLE BEARING PRESSURE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 I INVENTO REX cssmofi BY CHARLES s. LAKE wam 6% ATTYS.

June 10, 1969 SEANQR ET AL 3,448,683

CALENDER WITH REMOVABLE BEARING PRESSURE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 16, 1966 sheet 3 of s FIGS 4 liiillllll 64 I FIG.4

J0) PT I I I I "M492 02L I g 72' "II n V Q REX c ifi 4a BY CHARLES c. LAKE 4 5m a (51mm ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,448,683 'CALENDER WITH REMOVABLE BEARING PRESSURE MECHANISM Rex C. Seanor and Charles G. Lake, Akron, Ohio, as-

signors to Adamson United Company, Akron, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,198 Int. Cl. B30b 3/04 US. Cl. 100-170 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to calenders including a finishing roll and a cooperating roll and bearing boxes journalling the ends of the finishing roll in the frame means, other means operate on the bearing boxes to adjustably position the finishing roll with relation to the cooperating roll, and means are present for moving the means operating on the bearing boxes out of operative engagement therewith and to a retracted position to allow axial movement of the finishing roll out of the frame means.

This invention pertains to a calender including mechanism whereby accurate roll bending of the finishing roll of the calender can be achieved, the mechanism being movable to inoperative, out of the way position so that the finishing roll of the calender can be easily and quickly removed from the calender frame through a window therein.

The invention provides a calender of the character described wherein negative roll bending forces are effectively counterbalanced, and do not alter the normally adjusted position of the finishing roll necks in their journals.

For a better understanding of the apparatus of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross section of the bearing boxes and roll necks of the finishing roll in the calender frame;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially broken away, of the apparatus of the invention, illustrating in greater detail the mechanism utilized to pressure the bucking bearing shoes against the necks of the finishing roll;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3, as viewed from line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus of the invention, taken on line 55 of FIG. 3, and illustrating in greater detail the means utilized to journal the necks of the finishing roll in the calender.

In the drawings, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, this figure diagrammatically illustrates the basic arrangement of the apparatus of the invention. The calender of the invention is comprised of at least a pair of calender rolls, such as a finishing roll and a cooperating roll 12, normally constituting part of a standard calender, such as an inverted L, not shown. The cooperating roll 12 is journalled to the frame means 64 having laterally opposed windows 70 by conventional means of including a pair of bearing boxes 16 which journal the necks 18 and 20 of the roll in the frame and which are positioned in the frame means 64 by suitable means (not shown). Substantially similar pairs of bearing boxes, generally indicated by the numerals 22 and 24, journal the necks 21 and 23 of the finishing roll 10 in the frame means.

As mentioned previously, it sometimes is desirable to put pressure on the bearing boxes 24 journalling the finishing roll 10 in the frame means of the calender in order 3,448,683 Patented June 10, 1969 to increase or reduce the size of the crown of the finishing roll. For example, solid line 26 indicates in exaggerated form the regular or machined crown of finishing roll 10. But by pressuring the ends of the finishing roll in a downward direction, the roll 10 is bent so that the outside crown thereof is increased and takes in exaggerated form the shape indicated by chain dotted line 34. The bending of roll 10 as described is effected by actuating pressure cylinders 28 positioned on the frame means so that piston rods 30 are removably but operatively attached to bearing boxes 24, as by a lock pin, threaded stud, or the like (not shown) engaging the piston rods and a suitable member on the bearing boxes. Thus, the bearing boxes 24 can be pulled in a downward direction, as indicated by arrow 32 in FIG. 1 when desired.

Bending of the finishing roll 10 in the opposite direction in order to reduce the size of the crown on the finishing roll is achieved by actuating pressure cylinders 28 so that the piston rods 30 are pushed upwardly against the bearing boxes 24. As such action occurs and the piston rods 30 are moved in the direction of the arrow 36, the finishing roll 10 can be bent in the direction of or to a negative crown with the outside crown of the finishing roll taking the position in exaggerated form indicated by dotted line 38. v

To achieve this roll bending so that the size of the crown of the finishing roll can be selectively controlled, it is necessary that there be only small or no play or slop between the necks 23 of the finishing roll and the bearing boxes 22 which journal the necks of the finishing rolls 10 in the frame of the calender. This is because as the ends of the finshing roll are bent in the direction of either arrows 32 or 36, the necks 23 of the finishing roll 10 must not move laterally or up or down in the bearing boxes 22 or a true and accurate positioning of the roll will not be achieved.

In order to achieve a 'snug journalling of the necks 23 of the finishing roll 10 in the bearing boxes 22 whereby no play occurs in the direction of the rolling load as the ends of the finishing roll are bent, both bearing boxes 22 are formed from two complementary bearing portions (see FIG. 2), these specifically being bucking bearing portion 40 and a main bearing portion 42. Since the components journalling both necks 23 of the finishing roll 10 of the calender are exactly the same and are mirror images of each other, the apparatus on only one end of the finishing roll will be described in detail.

Referring to the main bearing portion 42 of the box bearing 22, it is pressured against the neck of the finishing roll by a threaded adjusting screw or support post 44 which is operatively but removably connected thereto (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The other end of each support post 44 is threadably received by the frame means 64 of the calender so as to readily facilitate lowering or raising of the support post 44 and of the end of the finishing roll by effecting a rotation of the support post. This will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

The apparatus utilized to pressure the bucking portion 40 of the box bearing 22 against the neck of the finishing roll, as diagrammatically indicated by FIG. 1, consists of a pair or more of tie rods 46 which extend downwardly from each end of the bucking bearing portion 40. The tie rods connect by clevices 48 at their upper ends to hearing portion 40 and at their lower ends to a cross piece 49 which extends between each pair of rods. The purpose of the cross piece 49 is to engage a tongue on the arm 50 which, in turn, is pivotally connected by pin 68 to a piston rod 52 of a hydraulic pressure cylinder 54. A fulcrum point 58 for the arm 50 is provided in the frame 64 so that actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 54, to move the piston rod 52 outwardly therefrom (in the direction of the arrow 56), causes the arm 50 3 to pivot about the fulcrum 58, forcing the cross piece 49' connected to the tie rods 46 in a downward direction. Such a forcing downwardly of the tie rods 46 causes the bucking bearing portion 40 to engage with selected force the neck of the finishing roll 10.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, actuation of the pressure cylinder 54 to cause the piston rod 52 to move in the opposite direction of the arrow 56 causes the arm 50 to slide away from the cross piece 49 so that the entire pressure mechanism can be pulled out of the way to allow the finishing roll 10 to he slid axially outwardly from the frame means.

The pressure mechanism is more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 showing each pressure cylinder 54 pivotally mounted as by a pin 62 to the frame 64 of the calender. A window 66 cut in the frame 64 allows access to the pressure cylinder 54. Slidably extending from the pressure cylinder 54 is piston rod 52 which is pivotally mounted by a clevis to a pin 68 connecting to the arm 50 and to links 76 and 78 which are pivotally mounted by pin 72 to the frame 64. A window 74 in the frame means 64 allows access to the pin 68.

The tongue 80 of the arm 50 has sliding contact with the cross piece 49 connecting the pair of downwardly extending tie rods 46 connected to bucking bearing portion 40. The arm 50 includes a pair of fulcrums or wear plates 82 which adapt the arm for rocking movement when supported by the frame 64 of the calender.

With the arm 50 and associated mechanism in the position shown in FIG. 3 to pressure bucking bearing portion 40, when it is desired to remove the finishing roll 10 from the frame means of the calender, the pressure cylinder 54 is actuated so that the piston rod 52 is forced axially into said cylinder. Such movement breaks the toggle provided by the arm 50 and links 76 and 78 and effects movement of the pin 68 from the full line position to the dotted line position 86. This effects a pulling movement on the arm 50 until the tongue 80 thereof slides off the cross piece 49 and the entire arm is moved inside the window 70 in the frame and out of the way. Inclined surface 88 is provided in the frame means adjacent to the bottom wear plate 82 of the arm 50 so that it gradually slides down and pivots on the incline 88 as the arm 50 is retracted.

Actuation of the pressure cylinder 54 in the opposite direction moves the piston rod 52 outwardly. This pushes the arm 50 in an upward and outward direction so that the tongue 80 of the arm 50 engages the cross piece 49' and forces it in a downward direction, thereby pulling the bucking bearing portion 40 into the desired pressure contact with the neck of the finishing roll 10.

FIG. illustrates the manner in which the threaded support post 44 engages the main bearing portion 42. Support post 44 is threadably received by a nut 90 which is seated in the frame means 64 of the calender. A thrust bearing, indicated generally by the numeral 92 is mounted on the threaded support post 44 and is received in a removable bearing cup 93 connected to the main bearing portion 42. The support post 44 is disengaged from the the thrust hearing by removing set screw 44a that normally secures the support post to the bearing when it is desired to remove the finishing roll from the calender.

When such is desired, separate motor means (not shown), but incorporated as known standard means in a calender, are utilized to rotate support posts 44 so that they are drawn downwardly into the lower edge of the window 70 of the frame means 64 to effect a dropping of the main bearing portions 42 and the ends of the finishing roll supported thereby. When such occurs, a suitable support cart (not herein shown) is adapted to be slid into the calender housing and the cart engages and supports footers 94 which form a part of each main bearing portion 42.

Thus, removal of the finishing roll from the calender frame is achieved by merely actuating the presure cylinder 54 to move the arms 50 fully away from the cross pieces 60. The threaded support posts 44 are retracted until footers 94 are supported by the cart which has been rolled into the frame means of the calender and the support posts are released from the thrust bearings 92. Then the threaded support posts 44 are again rotated to fully retracted position. As is illustrated by FIG. 5, pins 96 connecting piston rods 30 with box bearings 24 are withdrawn so that the piston rods 30 can be dropped away from the bearing boxes 24. The finishing roll is now free to be slid out of the window 70 of the calender on the cart aforesaid carrying bearing boxes 24 and 22 thereon.

An important feature of the present invention provided by the structure and mechanism described and not fully brought out heretofore is that the mechanism pressuring the bucking bearing portion 40 is normally operated to provide pressures equal and opposite to those provided by pressure cylinders 28. For example, if roll bending pressures of 50,000 pounds is created by cylinders 28, pressures in equal and opposite amounts are applied to bucking bearing caps 40. This insures that the roll bending forces on the roll are counter-balanced, and while effecting a desired roll bending, do not disturb or alter the position of the finishing roll in its bearing 42. In other words, the necks 23 of the finishing roll are always held in bearings 42 at the distance from the cooperating roll selected upon adjustment of the screw posts 44.

While a certain representative embodiment and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calender frame means,

a finishing roll and a cooperating roll,

bearing boxes journalling the ends of the finishing roll in the frame means,

means operating on the bearing boxes to adjustably position the finishing roll with relation to the cooperating roll,

second bearing bOxes journalling the ends of the finishing roll axially outboard of said first bearing boxes,

means operating on the second bearing boxes to adjustably pressure the finishing roll ends in a direction parallel to the plane of the axes of the rolls, and

means for moving the means operating on the bearing boxes out of operative engagement therewith and to a retracted position to allow axial movement of the fishing roll out of the frame means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the first bearing boxes include a main bearing portion and a bucking bearing portion, and the means operating on the first bearing boxes include a separate mechanism for pressuringlthe bucking bearing portion away from the cooperating r0 3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the separate mechanism for pressuring the bucking bearing portion includes means for moving the mechanism out of operative engagement with the bucking bearing portion and is comprised of a pressure cylinder pivotally mounted on said frame means,

a piston rod slidably received in said cylinder and adapted to be selectively slid axially inwardly or outwardly of said cylinder,

link means pivotally connected to said frame means and the end of said piston rod, and

arm means having one end thereof pivotally connected to the end of said piston rod and said link means, and the other end thereof movable from a remote position into operative engagement with said bucking bearing portion upon movement of said piston rod axially outwardly from said cylinder to thereby apply pressure to said bucking bearing portion and against the finishing roll ends to pressure them away from the cooperating roll, and whereby movement of said piston rod axially inwardly into said cylinder effects a sliding of said arm away from and out of contact with said bucking bearing portion and back to a remote position.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 and including separate mechanisms for pressuring the main bearing portion toward the cooperating roll, which mechanism includes means for moving the mechanism out of engagement with the main bearing portion and is comprised of a threaded support post means removably secured to and positioning said main bearing portion in spaced relationship from said frame means, said post being threadably received by said frame means whereby said post means is adapted to be dropped away from said main bearing portion and into a remote position by effecting a rotation of said post means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the means operating on the second bearing boxes comprise a pressure cylinder mounted on the frame for each bearing box,

piston and rod means slidably received by said cylinder,

and

means removably securing the rod means to said second bearing box whereby actuation of the pressure cylinder pressures the finishing roll necks toward the other roll, said means when removed allowing retraction of the rod means into a remote position.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the frame means has laterally opposed windows receiving at least the ends of the finishing roll and the bearing boxes therefor, and the axial movement of the finishing roll out of the frame means is out of one of the windows.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the means operating on the second bearing boxes applies substantially an equal and opposite force to that applied by the first operating means on the first bearing boxes.

8. In a calender including frame means, a finishing roll and a cooperating roll, bearing boxes journalling the ends of the finishing roll in the frame means, means operating on the bearing boxes to adjustably position the finishing roll with relation to the cooperating roll, second bearing boxes journalling the ends of the finishing roll axially outboard of said first bearing boxes, and means operating on the second bearing boxes to adjustably pressure the finishing roll ends in a direction parallel to the plane of the axes of the rolls,

the improvement comprising that the first bearing boxes include a main bearing portion and a bucking bearing portion, and the means operating on the first bearing boxes include a lever means one end of which is in operative, slidable bearing engagement with said bucking bearing portion and a portion of said lever means is positioned to fulcrum on a part of said frame means for pressuring the bucking bearing portion away from the cooperating roll, said frame means including an opening through which said lever means extends to be positioned thereby for rocking movement on portions of said frame means defining said opening, and a piston of a power actuated cylinder pivotally engages the other end portion of said lever means. 9. A calender as in claim 8 where said cylinder is pivotally secured to said frame means, and

a link is pivotally secured operatively to said piston rod at its connection to said lever means, said link being pivotally secured to said frame means so that retraction of said piston rod causes pivotal movement of said cylinder and draws said lever means out of engagement with said bucking bearing portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,613 1/1945 Rich et al. 2,604,366 7/1952 Morgan et al. 3,347,157 10/1967 Kemp 100170 X PETER FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. 3, 683 Dated June 10, 1969 Inventor) Hex C. Lieanor and har1es G. Lake It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

(Iolurnn 4, line 50, the word "fishing" hould read finishing SIGNED AND SEALED NOV 4 1969 (SEAL) Attest:

Edward MFMCh n WILLIAM E. scwmsa, m. Attesting Officer ssluner of Patents 

